Benefits Of Shoulder Stand

Shoulder stand, also called Sarvanga Asana, refers to one of the inverted yoga poses. An inverted yoga pose is any posture where the heart rests above the head. In the shoulder stand, a user is supposed to balance on her or his shoulders while the feet are suspended in the air. Performing the shoulder stand aids the body by offering various benefits as shown below.

1. Brain stimulation
Because the heart usually works contrary to gravity to deliver adequate blood to an individual’s brain, performing the shoulder stand leads to an increase of blood rich in nutrients the brain. This helps in refreshing the brain. Furthermore, performing shoulder stand is very challenging and it maintains proper brain health. The reason for this is that the brain has to work harder to come up with the balance and strength necessary to successfully do this pose. This mental workout that is imposed on a person’s brain works to enhance attention, concentration and memory.

2. Improves blood flow
Blood circulation is reversed when practicing inverted yoga postures. Typically, blood is circulated down towards the abdomen and up to the brain. Conversely, when performing shoulder stand, the blood has to flow contrary to its usual route as well as gravity. This means it is circulated down to your brain and then up to other parts of the body. This action strengthens the muscles of the heart and improves the body’s capability of effectively circulating blood. Circulation is very important as blood carries vital nutrients required for the body’s functions and it also carries away the toxins. Poor circulation may slow your healing process and also cause infection.

3. Weight loss
The shoulder stand pose promotes better thyroid functioning. Through proper metabolism regulation, you are likely to have better weight loss. This is because most overweight people have improperly functioning thyroids. Shoulder stand is therefore beneficial for weight loss.

This pose should be avoided during menstruation and also by individuals with thyroid disorders.